Plans for new Langa Massacre memorial

Uitenhage to hold 30th anniversary commemorations

WITH the milestone 30th anniversary of the Uitenhage Langa Massacre commemorations approaching, the Uitenhage Massacre Foundation has announced plans for the erection of a new R89-million memorial building incorporating an amphitheatre, a conference room and a heroes’ wall.

The R6.8-million heroes monument in Maduna Road is now just a shadow of its former self with the dilapidated multi-million rand Heritage Park having been vandalised numerous times.

There is no fencing, windows are broken and the toilets are no longer in good working condition.

Uitenhage Massacre Foundation chairman Nicholas Malgas said to lend the monument the dignity, recognition and respect deserving of the Langa victims and survivors, along with Langa memorial beneficiaries and the entire community of Uitenhage, the monument had to be replaced.

“We need R89-million from the government to build a precinct with an amphitheatre, conference room and heroes’ wall, and also to conduct the reburials.”

Malgas said government should also provide land identified by the Uitenhage Massacre Foundation for a sustainable project for the victims and beneficiaries to end the years of problems the affected families had endured.